China Publishing Group opens reading week with Party history session

The "Reading Historical Depth: 2026 National Reading Week Party History Reading Session" is held in Beijing, April 20, 2026. [Photo courtesy of China Publishing Group]

Beijing hosted a Party history reading session on April 20, coinciding with the launch of China's first National Reading Week.

The session, titled "Reading Historical Depth: 2026 National Reading Week Party History Reading Session," was organized by the SDX Joint Publishing Company and featured renowned Party history experts.

Speakers included Chen Jin, former deputy director of the Party Literature Research Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Luo Pinghan, former director of the Party History Teaching and Research Department at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.

They shared insights on Mao Zedong's reading habits, the Long March—the 1934–1936 strategic trek that became a defining moment in the CPC's history—and the establishment of Mao's leadership.

The session marked the kickoff of 2026 National Reading Week events organized by the China Publishing Group (CPG). Co-organized by CPG and the Publishers Association of China, the series runs from April 20 to 26.

It features more than 100 activities, bringing together nearly 1,000 renowned authors and showcasing tens of thousands of titles, reflecting CPG's cultural and civic role.

China implemented its first administrative regulation focused on nationwide reading in February 2026, with measures to enhance promotion efforts, improve service quality and expand support systems.

The national comprehensive reading rate increased from 76.3% in 2012 to 82.1% in 2024.